Site (Subdomain) Removal from Webmaster Tools

[Cary_PCC]

We have two subdomains that have been verified in Google Webmaster Tools. These subdomains were used by 3rd parties which we no longer have an affiliation with (the subdomains no longer serve a purpose).

We have been receiving an error message from Google: "Googlebot can't access your site. Over the last 24 hours, Googlebot encountered 1 errors while attempting to retrieve DNS information for your site. The overall error rate for DNS queries for your site is 100.00%".  I originally investigated using Webmaster Tools' URL Removal Tool to remove the subdomain, but there are no indexed pages. Is this a case of simply 'deleting' the site from the Manage Site tab in the Webmaster Tools interface?

[irvingw]

If the site has been already removed by Google then you're fine but i would still put a robots.txt block on it, since you don't know who turned it off. They probably pointed it away from your subdomain in their domain registrar account, which means they could repoint it again anytime if they wanted and the site would resolve again and get indexed again.

[Richard555]

Hi Cary

From what you say it suggests to me the subdomains have gone / dead / been removed.

Therefore you only need to remove it from WMT and ensure only the correct people have access to your WMT / GA etc as I outlined above.

All the best

Nigel

[Cary_PCC]

Hi nigel555,

I was thinking along these lines, but I was concerned it was too simplistic of an approach. I was sure I was missing something.

How do you feel about the approach outlined above by Irving?

[Cary_PCC]

Thanks for the help Irving.

So you think we should block the subdomains with robots.txt files and then use the URL removal tool to remove the "sites" from Google's index.

I have done a site: search looking for indexed URLs from the subdomains, but the searches were empty. Do you think I should still use the URL removal tool?

[Richard555]

Hi Cary, you are getting that message as the subdomain cannot be reached by Google.

On the Google Webmaster 'Home page' click the dropdown on the right - there should be 3 options.

First click 'Add or remove users' to ensure and deal with users you no longer want.

Then click 'Delete site' to remove the subdomain (make sure you delete the right one!)

Other things you may want to consider:

Check your main site has the right users accessing it.

Did you have Google Analytics on the subdomians - that data will still be there. You may want to consider who has access to that in future.

Check if the affiliates had any access to email, documents, regular reports or other tool you may want to lock down on.

All the best

Nigel

[irvingw]

it sounds like they are no longer resolving? since they are subdomains to your site i would block them with robots.txt (making sure you don't accidentally block your main site) and request removal in WMT and get them both completely deindexed.

I would keep them verified in WMT so that you can see there is nothing being done with them by a third party, because you are responsible for your subdomain content since it's technically under your control.